Are you at risk of being reported for advancing foreign interests?
International transactions and other global exchanges are a common part of modern life. However, a number of countries have public registries to guard against covert foreign interference, which may affect their national security.
Canada is currently creating a similar foreign influence transparency registry. While legitimate political funding and overt lobbying activities are already regulated, subtler foreign attempts to influence public opinion and political outcomes in Canada are about to face increased scrutiny.
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Jeffrey S. Thomas
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External pressure: New federal foreign influence transparency registry likely to be established soon in Canada
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Under the new registry, Canadian businesses acting for or on behalf of foreigners may be required to register that relationship. If your firm is retained to position foreign interests in Canada, or influence a political outcome on their behalf, you may fit the bill.
Canadian service firms (government relations, public relations, consulting, accounting and law firms) need to consider whether they will be comfortable with their current dealings with foreigners becoming public. As a comparison, current U.S. legislation requires business documents to be disclosed, and even promoting foreign tourism counts as a registrable activity.
Whether you are part of an entity owned or controlled by foreign interests, or a service provider acting for any such entity, this development should be of interest to your:
The recent appointment of a foreign interference commissioner in Canada’s public inquiry into the matter is an indication of pressing concerns. BLG can help you prepare for the new foreign influence transparency registry by:
Note: even Canadian companies that do not normally undertake registrable activities may still benefit from having preventive policies in place.
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Jesse Goldman
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James Fu
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Suppliers that engage in forced and child labour and human trafficking expose businesses to reputational, financial and operational risk. The EU and U.S. have led the way with versions of modern slavery legislation. Canada’s Bill S-211 could come into force this year. The requirements in S-211, if they become law, will call for substantive compliance resources for business.
Until recently, “supply chain” was a phrase rarely used in everyday conversation. Then the COVID-19 pandemic revealed security risks in the complex supply chain connecting producers and their customers. This, coupled with other emerging risks — labour shortages, cybersecurity, political unrest, and climate to name a few — have caused both business and governments to re-assess how to treat global supply chains in a rapidly changing world.
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• Corporate executives
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• Marketing and
communications
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• Various other
consultants and
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1. Identifying potential risks of exposure
2. Drafting relevant policies and advising on their implementation
3. Ensuring initial and ongoing compliance with upcoming requirements
The recent appointment of a foreign interference commissioner in Canada’s public inquiry into the matter is an indication of pressing concerns. BLG can help you prepare for the new foreign influence transparency registry by:
